Under Armour Spieth 5 Spikeless Golf Shoes Review - The Best UA Golf Shoes to Date

Ever since Under Armour released their first Jordan Spieth model golf shoes four years ago (the Spieth One), there's been a strong diversity of opinion about them with each successive release.  From comfort and fit to traction and design, feelings on the Spieth shoes were mixed.

And I can tell you right off the bat, there will be a striking consensus about the new Spieth 5.  In every way possible, these are the best Spieth shoes Under Armour has ever designed (and it's not even close).

Previous Spieth models fit tight, maybe too tight.  There was an overall stiffness to them you'd expect from older traditional leather shoes, but not what you want in a modern golf shoe.  Some models were even difficult to just put on.

 

The new Spieth 5 slip on to your feet almost as easily as a pair of slippers.  You can feel immediately the upper is softer, more flexible, and lighter.  Older models felt like you had to wedge your foot into the shoes.  It was a snug fit but not extremely comfortable.

 

With Spieth 5 you still get a snug fit, but these feel like they stretch and mold around your foot.  And they're even more breathable.  The old Spieth 4 feel like catchers mitts on your feet by comparison.  It's truly a night and day comfort improvement.

 

In addition to the many obvious improvements, there are also subtle ones and even surprising refinements.  Take for example the tongue.  The Spieth 5 tongue is shorter than previous models, and now the top of the tongue isn't a potential irritant against your skin above your ankle socks anymore.

 

The Spieth 5 tongue appears to be the same thickness as the Spieth 4, yet it's softer, with more stretch, and feels more comfortable.  It also doesn't move around while you play like it did sometimes with previous Spieth shoes.  Under Armour clearly had a focused purpose in making everything about Spieth 5 better.

 

I mentioned earlier the Spieth 5 uppers are lighter and more flexible, and yet somehow when you wear them they feel more substantial on the the top of your foot, like there's more padding.  It's still a soft, light sensation, and you're definitely locked in everywhere.  But now you don't feel the laces dig into your foot like in some previous Spieth shoes.  Spieth 5 are also fully waterproof.

 

The Spieth 5 footbed is also significantly softer yet still stable feeling.  It's a squishier cushion feel using the HOVR foam previously only found in the HOVR line of shoes.  And it's particularly more comfortable all around the heel area.

 

I don't know what zero gravity feels like and of course you can't walk on air.  But if you sit down in a chair, cross your legs, and just bounce one foot in the air a bit, walking in the Spieth 5 shoes feel lightweight and easy a little bit like this.  No other Spieth shoe has ever felt this airy.

 

Spieth 5 also give you more ground awareness and are lower profile than any previous Spieth shoes.  You clearly feel closer to the ground and part of that reason is because these (for the first time) are spikeless.

 

The most surprising thing for me about Spieth 5 being spikeless is how the traction and stability is every bit as good as the Spieth 4 spiked.  I'd normally never believe spikeless shoes can give you the same traction as spikes, but I wore the Spieth 5 and Spieth 4 during the same round, hit the same kinds of shots from the same places on the course.  And Spieth 5 spikeless made me a believer.

 

I counted 133 varied shape and depth lugs (compared to UA Golf's other spikeless shoe the HOVR Show).  Spieth 5 has a different spikeless design and pattern that's very elaborate looking.  Lugs are tighter spaced, with some more flexible than others (the black ones), that let you dig down into the turf more rather than just smash it down  Full disclosure, I only wore these on a dry day, but I'd expect similar performance when the ground is wet.

 

You're also not sacrificing any stability with the Spieth 5.  In fact, you're getting enhanced, more comfortable stability.  The outsole platform is wider at the balls of your feet and slightly at the heel as well for exceptional balance.  And the Spieth 5 outsole adds a little more flexibility along with a midsole that's infused with more HOVR foam.

 

I’ve worn every UA Golf shoe since the Spieth One, so I can tell you confidently the folks at Under Armour didn't merely raise the bar for comfort with the new Spieth 5 shoes.  They created an entirely new performance standard for the Spieth line altogether.  By any measure Spieth 5 are the best golf shoes Under Armour has designed to date.